Saturday, February 2, 2019

Pasta with Veggies and Peanut Sauce



One of the publishers at ALA Midwinter always gives away their display books to people who can answer 3 trivia questions.  Of course I had to try to win one...and I did.  Called "The Clueless Vegetarian: a cookbook for the aspiring vegetarian," I figured it would have some good ideas.  And after taking a look at it, I think it does!

The first recipe I tried was one for "Spicy Peanut Pasta."  I made a few changes to make it easier and healthier: swapping fresh veggies for frozen, adding more vegetables and sauce, using whole wheat pasta, and dividing it into more servings.  (For some reason the book said a full pound of pasta would be only make 4 servings, but I divided it into 7).

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp. vegetable oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ground red pepper flakes (I did about 6 shakes from my small shaker, could definitely have done more)

Pasta Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 tsp. fresh ginger root, finely grated
  • 2 medium carrots, coarsely grated
  • 2 packages frozen steam-in-bag stir fry mixed vegetables
  • 1 package frozen steam-in-bag cauliflower
  • green onions, optional 
  • roasted peanuts, optional 


Directions:

  1. Add all sauce ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth
  2. Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and rinse with cool water
  3. Heat vegetables in the microwave for less time than directed, just long enough to be unfrozen/warmish, but not to thoroughly heat.
  4. Heat oil in large pot (I used the same one that I cooked the pasta in), add onion and ginger, cook for 1 to 2 minutes over high heat.
  5. Add veggies and grated carrots and cook until carrots are tender and other veggies are thoroughly warm
     
  6. Add cooked pasta and stir, then heat for a minute or two
  7. Add sauce and stir, cooking until everything is heated through

  8. Divide and top bowls with peanuts and/or green onion, as desired. 

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